Abstract
In this paper, we propose a computational approach to Jane Jacobs' concept of diversity and vitality, analyzing new forms of spatial data to obtain quantitative measurements of urban qualities frequently employed to evaluate places. We use smart card data collected from public transport to calculate a diversity value for each research unit. Diversity is composed of three dynamic attributes: intensity, variability, and consistency, each measuring different temporal variations of mobility flows. We then apply a regression model to establish the relationship between diversity and vitality, using Twitter data as a proxy for human activity in urban space. Final results (also validated using data sourced from OpenStreetMap) unveil which are the most vibrant areas in London.
Highlights
Numerous attempts have been made at defining and calculating metrics to better describe and understand spatial dynamics in cities, and dynamics related to the presence of people in places
Spatial information used in previous studies has been commonly collected through empirical observations and surveys, resulting in very detailed yet limited data sets in terms of the spatial and temporal extents of the urban situation they were describing
Such metrics make it possible to obtain a quantitative evaluation of particular urban dynamics and to achieve a better understanding of phenomena related to spatial dynamics and patterns of human mobility in cities
Summary
Numerous attempts have been made at defining and calculating metrics to better describe and understand spatial dynamics in cities, and dynamics related to the presence of people in places. The urban data deluge that has recently become available represents an unprecedented opportunity for researchers to have access to extensive and detailed data sets of information about urban space This opens to the possibility of unveiling urban dynamics at a finer granularity. Such informationally rich data sets, not produced for the specific purpose of spatial analysis [20], show another representation of urban space, containing supplementary information not derived from its morphology (which is obviously the main source for urban metrics). Including these data in the analysis means introducing an additional layer of information to the complex representation of what urban space is
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